Kochi: Fiat India limited launched the latest entrant in the diesel ''C'' segment, Fiat Petra EL and ELX, powered with a 1910 cc engine, in the Kerala market. Speaking at the function, Ravi Bharadwaj, director commercial, Fiat India, said the Indian automobile industry, specially the diesel segment, has seen significant growth in recent times.

Fiat has always been the pioneer in diesel technology and this 1910 cc powerhouse has been selected based on its engineering suitability for the Indian market, he said.

Bharadwaj adds, "It is among the most modern in direct injection, naturally aspirated diesel engines in the world."

The Petra diesel was designed to provide a much higher fuel economy and driving pleasure with all safety features, he said. The Petra diesel would be available to the customers here in various colours including silver frost, thunder black, glacier white and hazel grey, he said. Petra powered by the 1.9 litre engine with modern electronically controlled injection system is priced at Rs 5.69 lakh (Petra Diesel EL) and Rs 6.05 lakh (Petra Diesel ELX) in Kochi, he said.

The 16-bit electronically controlled unit (ECU) enhances fuel efficiency by monitoring all vital engine operations like Air temperature, engine speed and calculates the exact amount of fuel and precise timing for it to be injected, Bharadwaj said.